From remixing Simple Minds to radio support from Pete Tong, Italian artist Paul Ursin has a storied career in electronic music, we catch up with him on the cusp of a new remix for Martin Eyerer & Ackermann.

Hello Paul, thanks so much for joining us today, how are you?

Hi Guys , happy to share my time with you.

Tell us a bit about yourself, where are you living now and how long have you been producing and Djing?

Paul Ursin: I’m a classic music lover based in a little village in Sicily in front of the sea, I think that being in touch with nature sets a perfect mood for the art. After many tests in the lab, I performed for the first time in public for my 12th birthday on my grandma’s rooftop, so right now it’s 19 years of Djing and 11 of producing.

How did you get into electronic music and where did some of your earliest inspirations come from? Were you always musical growing up?

Paul Ursin: Yes from tiny times on a turntable, I takes the reins and passion of my dad, sometimes we listened  to vinyl and cassettes of the best international 70s/80s electronic musicians, where then the first disco house was heard. That was a significance influence for me to want to become a DJ.

You had immense success quite early on with a remix of Simple Minds in 2006, tell us how that came to be and how it affected your career going forward.

Paul Ursin: Yes the remix for Simple Minds was my first official job, after several years of work to perfect my production technique, in 2006 I started my official career as a producer. All came from a natural collaboration between musicians, I proposed my work to the label in question, and they accepted my collaboration for the official release of remixes. A turning point, I immediately realized that I liked all this, the world of music has always fascinated me.

You’ve earned the support of many great DJs over the years, Pete Tong on Radio 1, Carl Cox, Adam Beyer and many more. Looking back what had the greatest impact on you at the time and why?

Paul Ursin: I’m always impressed to see colleagues play my music, especially the dancing crowd, as every dj has to get. Carl Cox is an icon for me, one of the few real djs left on planet earth. Seeing him pick my track makes me feel part of the history of Djing. Also  I have always followed Pete Tong on Radio1, I was very motivating to find myself on his program.

You have a new remix of Martin Eyerer & Ackermann  out now on Tenampa Recordings, tell us a bit about the production process behind that one, how did you approach it?

Paul Ursin: Since I first listened to the original I had a connection with this song. A lot of feeling with the vocal, noticing much connection with the artists and the label I felt free to express my interpretation of the song. The perfect blend that brings serenity to the studio. I am very happy with the result, and look forward to hearing the audience’s reaction.

How is the scene in Italy at the moment? Tell us about the nightlife there and do you get a chance to DJ in your home country very often?

Paul Ursin: The Italian scene is in full swing. The demands of big events have increased and the audience is hungry. It is more common for me to play outside my country but now things are changing, I have several gigs in my city and in Italy since 2018.

How has living there shaped your career and sound?

Paul Ursin: Surely the place where I live with much inspiration and influences for my sound, travel also helps me to mix the various sound trends, it’s great to go back to the studio after the weekends spent in the international clubs.

Where is your favorite place to travel to DJ?

Paul Ursin: I always feel that feeling, in all clubs where I perform, but I’m in love with the clubs in Berlin and London.

Noir seems to have become a comfortable home for you over the last year, tell us how that began and the impact it’s had on your career.

Paul Ursin: Yes, I’ve decided to focus my work on the label for a long time. My first release on Noir has an impact and allowed me to work better on my sound to gain a place in their roster. I make a lot of choices in finding the right label to release my original music. I do not like to distribute my work to many brands.

What are the biggest challenges that you currently face in the industry as a artist?

Paul Ursin: Surely there are too many releases, it seems like a rush of mice. There are many record labels, most releasing poor songs. The challenge is always the same, the audience needs good music. The dj must blow up the dance floor, this is the real challenge.

What kind of stuff have you been playing in your DJ sets recently? Who are some of your go to artists?

Paul Ursin: I love the music 360°, my set imprint is always on changes, love to mix some kind of music, from electronic to house techno stuff, many atmosphere around my set. I love to see when the people are surprised song by song selected by an hard work of listening all promo and release one by one, for sure I have on the radar many producer like a Maceo Plex, Kink, Audion and many more

What five tracks are you currently loving the most at the moment?

Rrose – Waterfall (Original Mix)
Space Manoeuvres – Stage One (Lashes Remix)
Kincaid and Sinal – Message Read No Response (Original Mix)
Maetrik – Cortex 11-b (Original Mix)
Raxon – Orix (Original Mix)

What can we expect to hear next from you?

Paul Ursin: Some releases coming as a single on Oliver Hunteman’s Senso Sound in December  and some remixes this year. At the moment I’m working on my next EP’s for 2018. I think you imagine on which brands I could release my next collections.

Also certainly numerous shows in England, Germany and a tour in Asia linked to the first edition of 5 sense Thailand, a 2 week festival with more than 100 artists.

See you on the dance floor, and thank you for the opportunity

Ciao,

Paul

Paul has new music out now on Tenampa Recordings, you can purchase the release: here